Proton today rolled out advanced collaboration features for its Docs application, adding a layer of secure, real-time editing to its already privacy-focused suite of productivity tools. This latest update introduces a “suggesting mode,” a familiar function for Google Docs users, where collaborators can propose edits without altering the original text. The suggestions appear as tracked changes, offering teams a structured and secure way to gather feedback on sensitive documents. Proton highlights that this is the first real-time collaboration tool with end-to-end encryption—a significant feature for industries like healthcare, finance, and legal sectors that need strict confidentiality.

Another new feature in Proton Docs is the ability to share public links with customized permissions, like setting documents to “read-only” or adding expiration dates to control how long documents stay accessible. This aligns with Proton’s security-forward mission, offering flexibility for external document sharing while maintaining strict privacy standards.

Since its launch in July 2024, Proton Docs has been expanding to include PDF exporting, word count, and advanced formatting, inching closer to the feature set offered by Google Docs and Microsoft Office. However, Proton stands apart with its commitment to user privacy: unlike major competitors, Proton encrypts data by default and does not use user data for AI model training, ensuring that user information stays confidential.